Kyiv power outages force Ukraine to rethink youth athletics calendar
According to Ukrainska Pravda, the decision was taken after infrastructure damage made it impossible to guarantee safe and stable conditions for athletes and staff.
Decision linked to January attack on Kyiv
The Executive Committee of the Ukrainian Athletics Federation has postponed the national youth team championships, according to the federation’s press service.
Officials said the move followed a Russian attack on Kyiv on 20 January that disrupted electricity, heating and water supply across large parts of the city. With indoor venues and athlete accommodation affected, organisers concluded the event could not go ahead as planned.
Federation representatives stressed that the issue was not sporting readiness, but the inability to ensure basic living and training conditions during the outages.
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Championships rescheduled for early February
The youth championships had originally been scheduled for 24 and 25 January. They will now be held on 6 and 7 February.
The revised dates coincide with the Ukrainian Indoor Athletics Cup, effectively concentrating two major domestic events into the same week. Organisers said the delay was intended to give venues time to stabilise operations and secure independent power and heating systems.
Federation says preparations continue despite disruption
In a statement published by the federation, officials said work is ongoing to adapt to the difficult circumstances.
“The organising committee is taking all possible measures to stabilise the operation of the sports venue and ensure autonomous electricity, heating and water supply at the teams' accommodation. Thank you for your understanding and resilience during this difficult time. We are working for the future of Ukrainian athletics,” the federation said.
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Athlete safety and minimum living standards, officials added, remain the central criteria for scheduling decisions.
Strong performances highlight resilience of Ukrainian athletics
The postponement comes at a time when Ukrainian athletes have continued to produce strong results despite the broader challenges.
Earlier this month, Olympic high jump champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh won the Oleksii Demianiuk Memorial Tournament, clearing 2.03 metres. The jump set a new meet record and stands as the best result worldwide this season.
Mahuchikh has also announced she plans to compete at the Ukrainian Indoor Championships. It will be her first appearance at the event since 2021, when she won gold in Sumy with a 2.00 metre jump.
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Sources: Ukrainska Pravda
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